2006 Ballot Issues

BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR INITIATIVE 151

INITIATIVE NO. 151

A LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

This measure raises the state minimum wage to the greater of either $6.15 an hour or the federal minimum wage. This measure also adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment to the state minimum wage. Under existing law, the state minimum wage is equal to the federal minimum wage, which is $5.15 an hour with no cost of-living adjustment. This measure does not change the $4.00 an hour minimum wage for a business whose annual gross sales are $110,000 or less. This measure would take effect January 1, 2007.

This measure would have no significant impact on the revenues, expenditures, or the fiscal liability of the state.

[ ] FOR raising the state minimum wage to the greater of either $6.15 an hour or the federal minimum wage, plus an annual cost-of-living adjustment.

[ ] AGAINST raising the state minimum wage to the greater of either $6.15 an hour or the federal minimum wage, plus an annual cost-of-living adjustment.

THE COMPLETE TEXT OF INITIATIVE NO. 151
I-151

Section 1.Section 39-3-409 MCA is amended to read:

"39-3-409. Adoption of minimum wage rates -- exception.

(1) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish a minimum wage that, except as provided in subsection (2)(3), must be the samegreater of either:

(a) the minimum hourly wage rate as provided under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)), excluding the value of tips received by the employee and the special provisions for a training wage.; or

(b) $6.15 an hour, excluding the value of tips received by the employee and the special provisions for a training wage.

(2)(a) The minimum wage is subject to a cost-of-living adjustment, as provided in subsection (2)(b).

(b) No later than September 30 of each year, an adjustment of the wage amount specified in subsection (1) of this section shall be made based upon the increase, if any, from August of the preceding year to August of the year in which the calculation is made in the consumer price index, U.S. city average, all urban consumers, for all items, as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.

(c) The wage amount established under this subsection (2):

(i) must be rounded to the nearest five cents; and

(ii) becomes effective as the new minimum wage, replacing the dollar figure specified in subsection (1), on January 1 of the following year.

(2)(3)The minimum wage rate for a business whose annual gross sales are $110,000 or less is $4 an hour."